Gemelli Pasta Food

GEMELLI WITH PESTO, POTATOES AND GREEN BEANS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; add the beans during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 3/4 cup cooking water, then drain. Set the pot aside.
• Meanwhile, pierce the potatoes all over with a fork. Microwave until tender, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly, then chop.
• Heat the olive oil in the reserved pot over medium-high heat. Add the potatoes, season with salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the pasta and green beans and stir to coat. Remove from the heat and add the pesto, lemon zest and 1/4 cup reserved cooking water; toss to coat, adding more cooking water as needed to loosen. Season with salt and pepper.

GEMELLI WITH TUNA AND CHERRY TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil and garlic to the pan. When garlic speaks by sizzling in oil, add tuna and mash into oil with the back of a wooden spoon. Let the tuna sit in the oil 5 to 10 minutes to infuse the fish flavor into the extra-virgin olive oil and to give the tuna time to break down -- it will almost melt into the extra-virgin olive oil. Raise the flame a bit and add the coarsely chopped tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper. Heat the tomatoes through, 2 minutes, then add hot, drained pasta that has been cooked to al dente. Add parsley to the tuna and pasta and toss to combine well and evenly coat pasta. Adjust seasonings. Top pasta with shredded basil and serve.

GEMELLI WITH KALE PESTO AND OLIVES

Steps:

• For the pesto: Place the walnuts, garlic and kale in a food processor. Pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, drizzle in the olive oil to form a smooth sauce. Add the salt, pepper flakes, orange zest, orange juice and Parmesan. Pulse until well blended. Pour the pesto into a large bowl and set aside.
• For the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the gemelli and cook until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water. Add the hot pasta to the bowl with the pesto, and toss well with a rubber spatula to coat. Add the chicken, the Cerignola and Kalamata olives, and the salt and Parmesan. Toss again. Loosen with pasta water as needed. Finish with a drizzle of olive oil if desired.

GEMELLI WITH ROASTED RED PEPPER SAUCE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. Salt the water and cook gemelli to al dente (with a bite to it), about 9 minutes.
• Grind drained roasted peppers in a food processor.
• Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add extra virgin olive oil, garlic, and shallots to the pan. Saute garlic and shallots 3 minutes, stir in roasted peppers. Saute pepper paste 2 minutes, stir in wine or chicken stock, reduce liquid for 1 or 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and parsley. Season sauce with salt and pepper and simmer until ready to serve.
• Toss hot pasta with sauce and transfer to a serving dish. Pass grated Romano and crusty bread at table.

GEMELLI PASTA WITH CLAMS, SCALLOPS AND SHRIMP

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and bell pepper, cook for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute, stirring frequently.
• Stir in wine, crushed red pepper and diced tomatoes, bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer for 10 minutes.
• Add clams and next 6 ingredients (through scallops. Cook for 3 minutes or until shrimp are done.
• Serve seafood mixture over pasta and sprinkle with cheese.